HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.4 Appednix D to Board Report 23 June 2020-1-P.137.SCO
POLICY P.137.SCO
TITLE: CONCUSSION MANAGEMENT
Date issued: 27 January 2015
Last revised: 23 June 2020
Authorization: Board: 27 January 2015
1.0 OBJECTIVE
To ensure awareness about head injury prevention and establish practices to manage
concussions.
2.0 DEFINITIONS
In this policy,
2.1 Board refers to the Board of Trustees.
2.2 Concussion refers to a brain injury that causes changes in how the brain functions,
leading to signs and symptoms that can be physical, cognitive, emotional and/or related
to sleep. A concussion can occur from a direct blow to the head, face or neck but may
also occur from a blow to the body that transmits a force to the head that causes the
brain to move rapidly within the skull. A concussion can occur with or without a loss of
consciousness and cannot normally be seen by means of medical imaging tests or
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
2.3 District refers to the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.
2.4 Return to School Plan is a personalized strategy to support a student’s Return to
Learning and Return to Physical Activity after having sustained a concussion.
2.5 Return to Learn refers to the student’s return to doing school work, including activities
that involve reading and writing. It does not include physical activities.
2.6 Return to Physical Activity refers to the student’s return to participation in an y
physical activity that increases the student’s heart rate. It includes a student’s return to
activities such as sports or physical education classes.
3.0 POLICY
Guiding Principles
3.1 The Board is committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of students.
Appendix D to Board Report 23 June 2020
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3.2 The Board recognizes that:
a) head injuries and/or concussions can adversely impact the cognitive, physical,
emotional and social development of students; and
b) head injuries and/or concussions can occur in any activity and are not restricted
to only sports or other high-risk activities.
3.3 The Board believes that:
a) activities that pose a higher risk for head injuries and/or concussions require
additional consideration based on the type of activity and its associated risk;
b) awareness of the signs and symptoms of concussion and effective concussion
management practices are key preventative strategies; and
c) administrators, educators (including occasional teachers), school staff, students,
parents, and school volunteers play an important role not only in the prevention
of concussion but also in the identification of a suspected concussion, as well as
the ongoing monitoring of students with a diagnosed concussion throughout their
Return to School Plan.
3.4 The Board recognizes the international consensus statement on concussion in sports.
3.5 The Board recognizes the Ontario Physical and Health Education Association
(OPHEA)’s concussion protocol, as part of the Ontario Physical Activity Safety
Standards in Education (OPASSE).
4.0 SPECIFIC DIRECTIVES
Awareness and Training
4.1 The Board recognizes Rowan’s Law Day and shall ensure annual concussion
awareness events for students and parents are held on or around Rowan’s Law Day,
which occurs on the last Wednesday in September.
4.2 The District shall make available information and resources regarding concussion
prevention, identification, and management to:
a) all staff;
b) students;
c) parents;
d) volunteers;
e) community partners; and
f) childcare providers.
4.3 Annual training shall be made available to relevant school staff and extra -curricular
leaders to promote awareness and understanding of concussion management
practices.
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4.4 The District shall engage students in concussion -related discussions, including the
following:
a) the importance of fair play and respect for all;
b) understanding prohibited play that is considered high -risk for causing
concussions;
c) understanding the risks of concussion in everyday activities; and
d) the importance of the recognition and reporting of concussion symptoms.
4.5 Other Prevention Strategies shall include:
a) minimizing slips and falls in compliance with the Occupiers Liability Act;
b) incorporating the rules of a physical activity/sport in the District’s learning
materials; and
c) the proper progressive implementation of the skills required for any physical
activity.
Identification and Management
4.6 The District shall have practices and procedures in place to govern the identification and
management of concussions based on the safety guidelines established by the Ontario
Physical and Health Education Association (OPHEA).
4.7 The management of a student’s concussion is a shared responsibility, requiring regular
communication between home, school, sports organizations with which a student is
involved and registered, and the student’s medical doctor or nurse practitioner or other
licensed healthcare providers, such as nurses, physiotherapists, chiro practors, and
athletic therapists, who may play a role in the management of a diagnosed concussion.
4.8 The District shall use a multi -step Return to School plan which includes: Rest, Return to
Learn (symptoms improving), Return to Learn (symptom-free), Return to Physical
Activity (light), Return to Physical Activity (specific sports) and Return to Physical
Activity (full participation).
4.9 Where there is a reason for concern about the possibility of a head injury and/or
concussion, the safe practice shall be to discontinue student participation in the activity.
4.10 The District shall make it a priority to communicate with parents immediately when a
concussion is suspected.
4.11 A student with a suspected concussion shall not return to full participation in physical
activity unless they are medically cleared by a physician or a nurse practitioner.
Implementation
4.12 Every year prior to participation in inter-school Board sponsored sports, confirmation of
the review of one of the Ministry of Education approved concussion awareness
resources and the respective concussion code of conduct will be submitted to the
District from the following individuals:
a) participant students;
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b) their parents/guardians;
c) participant coaches;
d) team trainers; and
e) other participating staff.
4.13 The Director of Education is authorized to issue such procedures as may be necessary
to implement this policy.
5.0 REFERENCE DOCUMENTS
Education Act, 1990, Section 321
Rowan’s Law, 2018
Consensus Statement on concussion in sport by the Concussion in Sport Group.
OPHEA-Concussion Protocol
Ministry of Education PPM 158, School Board Policies on Concussion
The Berlin Consensus Statement on Concussion in Sport, October 2016
OCDSB Procedure PR.561.SCO Concussion Management